Partition frame



June 21, 1932. O J, LARSON I 1,864,205

PARTITION FRAME Filed NOV. 12,, 1929 J7 gwuento'o 060a rJZarson /7 5 6 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrrci:

OSCAR J. LARSON, 0F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 WRIGHT METAL INCOR- PGRATETD, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PARTITION FRAME Application filed November 12, 1929. Serial No. 406,667.

This invention relates to an improvement in partitions and more particularly to panel frames and the method and means for altering the size and shape thereof to meet building conditions.

In its preferred embodiment this invention provides a panel frame having adjustable rail members by which said frame is adapted to meet usual ceiling conditions such as irregular or sloped ceiling walls. The frame, when adjusted, is capable of receiving and supporting a panel therein out .to conform to the shape of the frame.

The present trend in partition construction is to produce structures of self-contained adjustability in order to enable the manufacturer to build partitions of uniform shapes and sizes and to be assured that on erection, said partitions, being of flexible design, may be readily installed even though the room and partition dimensions are not in exact accord.

It is frequently discovered after a partition has been ordered, manufactured and partially erected, that no allowance was made for an uneven or sloped ceiling and consequently the upper panel frames must either be replaced with specially built exact sized frames or smaller frames substituted therefor andthe gap closed by a suitably shaped filler member.

The present invention is directed to and has for its principal object the provision of a partition frame, the exact dimensions of I which being determined at the time of erection, having horizontal rails capable of vertical adjustability to meet the angle or slope of the ceiling.

Another object of this invention lies in the provision of a structure mounted in the horizontal and vertical rails of the frame and by which the frame elements are held to the desired size and shape.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a frame adaptable to meet usual ceiling conditions and which is formed from frame elements capable in themselves of receiving the supporting panels.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification when taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing; and in which V Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an assembled partition showing one modifi cation of this invention applied thereto;

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the frame elements this invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the structural details of the frame elements, being taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken substantially on the line 44:, indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View showing an adjustable intermediate rail.

Referring to the drawing, this invention is shown applied to a ceiling height partition, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, which is supported by pilasters 12. Between adjacent pilasters and above the cornice 13, a frame 14 is located. This frame extends from the cornice 13 to the ceiling 16 and is comprised of vertical rails 17, lower horizontal rail 18, intermediate rail 19 and upper horizontal rail 20. The rails 17 are channularly formed to produce side walls 22 and 28. From the wall 22 the rail is shaped to form a moulding 24 against the shoulder 25 of which a panel is mounted. From the wall 23, the rail is formed with a flat face 27 which joins the shoulder 25 in a depressed portion 28. The purpose of the face 27 is to permit the insertion of the panel and the subsequent securing thereto of suitable moulding (not shown). Inasmuch as the other frame elements are formed to accommodate panels in a manner identical with that just described with relation to the 'rail 17, the panel supporting structure of the other frame elements need not be set forth in detail.

Adjacent the longitudinal center and upper end of the rails 17 and in the depressed portion 28, slots 30 are created. These slots, being of insuflicient length to weaken the side walls 22 and 23 of the frame elements, provide approximately a two inch vertical adforming justment for screws 31 mounted therein. lVashers 32 fitting over and conforming to the depressed portion 28 are provided not only to prevent the head 33 of the screw from passing through the slot but to create a. spring like tension against the screw head when said screw is in engagement with one of the horizontal frame elements, namely, the elements 19 and 20.

The lower horizontal rail 18, and the lower ends of the rails 17 are angularly cut and permanently joined together in any suitable manner as by welding. These elements form a. U-shaped frame open at the top and in which is mounted the intermediate rail 19. This rail is formed from two oppositely faced elements 35 and 36s The outer contour of these elements is similar to that of the rail 17, having formed moulding 37 and moulding securing faces 38. The lower element 35 is formed with inwardly turned flanges l0. The terminating walls 42 of the upper element 36 are adapted-to abut the shoulders of the flanges 40. Secured, as by welding, to the under side of the recessed wall &3, of the ole ment 36, are clips l5. The elements 35 and 36 are slidably interlocked with each other, the flanges of the element 35 engaging the clips 45between the depressions 46 thereof and the ends of the walls 42 of the element 36. Brackets 48 are secured by welding in the ends of the assembled intermediate rail 19. The reinforced portion 19 of the bracket 48 is formed with a drilled and tapped opening 50, with which a screw 31, mounted in'the side rail 17, is engaged. At the ends of the intermediate rail, the moulding 37 is cut at an angle to permit mortising against the moulding 2% of the vertical rails 17. V'Vhen the screws 31 are turned'down the intermediate rail is firmly secured at each endto the rails 17. Should it be found necessary to raise or lower the intermediate rail, thus altering the height of the lower and upper panels 53 and 54, the screws 31 are loosened, the rail usted to the desired position an inch or more up or down, and the rail is then again secured by tighten ing said screws. Inasmuch as the frame l-l is adapted to receive panels of varying height, said panels are not cut or fitted to the frame until said frame has been mounted in the partition and the dimensions thereof found to be correct.

The upper horizontal rail 20 is formed with a moulding 56 and moulding securing face 57 The ends of said rail, with the exception of the side walls 58, are cut away as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, to permit joining to the side rails 17. As described with reference to the lntermediate rail, the

walls 58 of the upper rail 20 overlap the depressed portions 52 of the walls 22 and 23. Mounted in each end of the rail 20, and secured thereto by welding, are brackets 60 having reinforced center portions 61 in which occur centrally located drilled and tapped openings 62. The openings 62 are threadably engaged with the screws 31, mounted in the side rails 17. As with the intermediate rail 19, the upper rail 20 is adjustable upwardly or downwardly.

It will be noted that should the ceiling 16 be slightly sloped, as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the rail 20 may be tipped to parallel said ceiling and secured by the screws 31 in this position. When the location of the upper rail 20 has been determined, the panel 54: is cut to fit the upper portion of the frame 14. In this manner the portion of a partition above the cornice 13 may be accurately fitted to meet unusual ceiling conditions with little or no additional work required during assembly of the partition.

lVhile applicant has shown but one application of use of a method and means for adjustably securing panel supporting frame rails, it will be understood that other applications of this invention are capable of being made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as newand for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a partition construction, a panel frame comprising a plurality of vertical and horizontal rails, depressed portions formed in said vertical rails, said portions having longitudinally extending slots therein, flanges terminating said horizontal rails, said flanges overlapping and slidably engaging the Walls of said vertical rails, brackets mounted within and adjacent the ends of said horizontal rails, and screws mounted in said vertical rails and extending through said slots, said screws engaging said brackets and adjustably supporting said horizontal rails, said adjustability being governed by the length of said slots.

2. In partition construction, a panel frame unit including vertical and horizontal rails, means adjustably joining said horizontal with said vertical rails for varying the vertical dimension of a panel opening, said means comprising a bracket in said horizontal rail, an elongated slot in said vertical rail and a screw projecting through said slot and ensignature.

OSCAR J. LARSON. 

